Taking the Casablanca Airport Train: The Cheap Way Into the City
This guide shows you all you need to know about taking the Casablanca airport train, a cheap, fast and safe way of transport between the airport and city centre.
From Casablanca Airport into the city
After a comfortable flight with Royal Air Maroc, I had finally arrived at Casablanca Airport.
It marked my first visit to Morocco and although I sadly had only two nights to spend in the country, I was immensely looking forward to discovering as much as I could of the city of Casablanca.
By the time I got through immigration, it was 8.30pm and already completely dark outside.
To get to my hotel in the city centre, I basically had the choice between the taxi and the airport train.
Casablanca airport train
Whenever there is good public transport available, I always prefer to take the bus or train from the airport instead of a taxi, and fortunately this is perfectly possible at Casablanca Airport as well.
Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport is connected by a train to the stations of Casa Voyageurs (the city’s main railway station) and Casa Port, the station serving both the harbour and the city centre.
Furthermore, Casa Voyageurs is connected to Casablanca’s tramway system, making it a convenient interchange between the train and the tram.
Unlike negotiating for an airport taxi, the airport train offers a hassle-free experience that gets you into the city center in the same time – or even faster during the day if there is heavy traffic on the roads.
Do however note that the airport train doesn’t operate around the clock.
When I visited Casablanca, there was an airport train departing once every hour.
The first train from Casablanca Airport towards Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port was at 4.50 am, and the last train of the day ran at 10.50 pm.
You can check train schedules online at the website of ONCF Voyages, the national passenger train operator, although the website is a pain to use and has an aggressive firewall that blocks visitors from most countries across the world (if it doesn’t load, it isn’t your fault!).
Buying your ticket
The train station, located one floor below the main arrivals hall, is clearly signposted throughout the airport.
After withdrawing some Moroccan money from one of the ATMs, I went down the escalator towards the train station.
The ticket office, called “billetterie” in French, is situated directly in front of the terminus platforms of the airport train station.
Most of the signs and information boards at Moroccan railway stations are bilingual in Arabic and French, so having some knowledge of French or knowing a few words (such as “gare” for train station) can certainly be helpful to get around.
When I arrived at the ticket office, there was no queue at all, and I easily managed to purchase my ticket to Casablanca.
For the train ride between Casablanca Airport and Casa Voyageurs station I paid 50 Moroccan dirham (€4.60) for a 2nd class ticket.
On board the train
The ride from the airport to the city was rather uneventful.
The seats on the airport train to downtown Casablanca are all unreserved seating, so these trains never sell out and you can take any available seat you like.
With it being dark outside, there wasn’t much of a view from the window, so I spent my time people watching.
The train was filled with a curious mix of Western, Arab, and African passengers, all heading into town.
I always enjoy this aspect of airports and taking public transport from them because it allows you to encounter so many diverse passengers from all over the world, and clearly, Casablanca was no exception.
The airport train was airconditioned and perfectly comfortable.
It took 33 minutes for the Casablanca airport train to reach Casa Voyageurs station, arriving right on time.
Casa Voyageurs
As I entered the main hall of Casa Voyageurs station, it was 10.30pm and the space was almost completely deserted.
However, there was still a small convenience store open where I could buy a drink and a small snack for in the hotel.
Although it was already late in the evening, I felt perfectly safe walking around the station and its immediate surroundings.
There were enough people around, including some police officers, which helped maintain social control.
Ibis Casa Voyageurs
As I knew I would arrive late in Casablanca, I had booked a hotel right outside Casa Voyageurs station.
For the next two nights, I would stay at the ibis Casa Voyageurs, a hotel which I will review in the next chapter of this trip report.
For what it’s worth, there are plenty of other hotels besides the mid-range ibis hotel located directly around both Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port stations, ranging from local budget lodgings to luxury hotels like the Sofitel.
If you are looking for an airport hotel in Casablanca, you can expand your search to include the areas directly around Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port stations as these stations are easily accessible by train from the airport.
Hotels like ibis Casa Voyageurs are also handy if you have an early train departure the following morning to another city in Morocco.
Exploring Casa Voyageurs
When I woke up the next morning I got a much better view of Casa Voyageurs train station from my room at the ibis hotel.
It was interesting to see the contrast between the neo-Moorish design of the old Casablanca train station with its landmark clocktower and the modern concourse over the railway tracks that now forms Casa Voyageurs station.
I managed to get a quick peek inside the wonderful old train station hall before an overzealous security guard promptly booted me out.
Back to the airport
After spending two nights in the surprisingly nice and interesting city of Casablanca, it was time for me to head back to the airport.
This time, I would again use public transport and take the train to get to Casablanca Airport.
As I was traveling in the morning hours, I finally had the opportunity to have a better look at the modern-day train station of Casa Voyageurs as well.
The main hall of Casa Voyageurs train station is reached by two sets of escalators from the street level.
In the main hall you can find numerous shops, cafes, a fast-food restaurant and plenty of benches to wait for your train departure.
It was easy to locate the main ticket office, where I managed to buy my ticket for the train to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport.
There are plenty of overhead monitors, as well as a main departures board, where you can check the platform from which your train will depart.
View over the tracks
Before you board your train it’s well worth to walk to the outdoor terrace overlooking the train tracks.
The entrance to this outdoor terrace is located right next to the McDonald’s.
From here, you can enjoy a lovely view over the platforms and engage in some serious trainspotting.
As Morocco’s most important train station you’ll find a wide variety of train traffic at Casa Voyageurs station, ranging from Casablanca suburban trains to ‘Al Atlas’ InterCity trains and ‘Al Boraq’ TGV high-speed trains.
There was even a super cute ginger cat relaxing in the sun on the train station terrace at Casa Voyageurs – do give him some cuddles if you pass by and see him!
Platforms
About 10 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart, I headed down to the platform.
My airport train had departed from Casa Port station a short while ago and arrived right on time at Casablanca Voyageurs station, where many passengers were waiting to catch the train to the airport.
However, there was plenty of space inside the train for passengers to spread out, and I was lucky to have a bay of four seats all to myself.
The train ride to the airport
Unlike the late evening ride from the airport into the city, this time I had the opportunity to look outside and enjoy the Moroccan scenery passing by through the train window.
Although the scenery is certainly not spectacular, the views from the train are quite pleasant.
Shortly after stopping at Casablanca Oasis station, our train diverged from the mainline heading south to Marrakech and took the branch line to the airport.
We arrived at Casablanca Airport station right on schedule after a 32-minute journey.
The scenes on arrival were a bit chaotic as dozens of passengers mobbed the train trying to board for the ride back to downtown Casablanca, even though many passengers still had to disembark.
Conclusion
There is no need to take a taxi if you need to travel between downtown Casablanca and the airport as there is a great public transport alternative with the Casablanca airport train.
The Casablanca airport train connects Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport with the downtown stations of Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port, with hourly departures and tickets costing only 50 Moroccan dirham (€4.60).
Especially when you have just arrived in the country, the train will provide you with some nice initial views of the Moroccan landscape and a glimpse into local life.
Moreover, you will appreciate that the train is an entirely safe and hassle-free experience.
If you disembark from the airport train at Casa Voyageurs station with its interesting mix of neo-Moorish and modern architecture, you have a great connection to the Casablanca tramway or to trains heading to every corner of Morocco, while the final stop of Casa Port is the most convenient for the city centre.
Trip report index
This article is part of the ‘Qatar Airways Qsuites Adventure to Casablanca‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:
1. A Stopover Walk Through Barcelona
2. Review: Joan Miró VIP Lounge Barcelona Airport
3. Review: Royal Air Maroc Economy Class Barcelona to Casablanca
4. Taking the Casablanca Airport Train: The Cheap Way Into the City (current chapter)
5. Review: Ibis Casa Voyageurs Hotel, Casablanca
6. Casablanca: Is Morocco’s Biggest City Worth a Visit?
7. Review: Royal Air Maroc Zenith VIP Lounge Casablanca Airport
8. Review: Qatar Airways Business Class Boeing 777 Qsuites
9. Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge
10. Travel Blogging: Not Always as Glamorous as It Looks Like
Hi Koen, thank you for this. I am arriving into Casablanca as a solo female and this account of the train has made me feel comfortable enough to do so. Are you able to buy train tickets with card or is it cash only? Thank you!
Both should be accepted. Card payment was possible at the Casa Voyageurs ticket office, so I believe it should be too at the airport, even though I paid cash there myself when I bought my ticket as I wanted to break up some larger notes I had just withdrawn from the ATM.
Have a great trip!
Hey same as Emily, solo femaIe traveller, I found this post so helpful thank you!
Just one thing if anybody could please help, l arrive at night international 9:45 pm. Airport website has last train at 9:56 pm (so no good):
Yet your post says last one is 10:50 pm (which I could make in time after immigration).
I’ve tried to confirm this but ONCF is too slow to load overseas and times out. Can anyone confirm last train time for early November 2023 schedule please?
Really appreciate it,
Highly likely to still be the same schedule in November – as the hours I listed in my article were taken from the summer schedule for 2023!
I have also found that oncf.ma does not work. It seems like ONCF has got a new web page which does work very well, though only in French.
https://www.oncf-voyages.ma/
I found the published routes there to fit with what Koen has written (last train at 22:50 at the date I checked in December when I’m arriving there. I have also found the website you mentioned that are claiming that last train at 21:56, but luckily that seems to be old news!
Even that ONCF site is highly unreliable, it seems to fail to load more often than the times I do manage to acces it…
Thank you so much for this article. We (a family of 4 from Singapore) will be visiting Morocco in November and based on experience, travelling on the local transport system is a must! We appreciate that you outline the train system in casablanca.
Thanks for reading. Wishing you and your family a fantastic trip to Morocco!
Firstly, I’d like to say big Thanks. This is such a great article that helps many many travelers.
This is just to find out if there are multiple stops that this train makes: Oasis, Casa Port and Casa Voyageurs . Correct? Also: how were you able to commute from Casa Voyageurs to the city center?
Totally appreciate your help!
Thanks! The train makes just three stops after departure from the airport. First at Oasis, then Casa Voyageurs and finally Casa Port. How to commute to your final destination depends on where exactly in Casablanca you have to be as the city is rather big! Casa Port is located closer towards the Medina and city centre if you intend to walk, but Casa Voyageurs is the only station located directly on the tram network.
Thanks for the info. I’m an older single gal and you just saved me a lot of money. Did the train/bus by myself all over Amsterdam last spring and it was a piece of cake!
Hello Koen,
Thank you for writing this, it has been a great help. A quick question for you. Assuming on your departure from Morocco that you flew internationally, how long did it take you to clear customs upon arrival at the airport in Casablanca? I plan on travelling to Morocco November 4 and returning November 5th to Madrid, Spain with RAM.
It took me around 20-25 minutes from the moment the planed came to a stop at its remote spot on the tarmac to the moment I arrived at the airport train station (this included the bus from the airplane to the terminal, going through passport control/customs, finding an ATM to withdraw some cash, and walking to the station and buying a ticket). All very fast in my case, although I have to add that I generally walk fast/have a good eye to find the right direction where I need to go to.
For what it’s worth, I arrived at 8.10pm and when I got at immigration there was no queue whatsoever. It might of course be a completely different experience at other times of the day and/or if more planes full of passengers happen to arrive at the exact same moment.
Thank you Koen! Two last questions for you, how long did it take you to depart Casablanca, I.e. get thru customs, go through security, get to your airplane. Start to finish?
Last question is, do you know if there are any taxi hailing apps or the best way to travel short distances that are not covered by the train?
On departure it took me 10-15 minutes from check-in to the Royal Air Maroc business lounge. To any departure gate would have taken a similar time. I do have to add that I was the first in the priority check-in queue and have fast track access, which for sure helped. But at the time I was at the airport (~10am) the queues seemed to be light everywhere.
I have no idea about taxi apps in Casablanca, sorry!
Hey Koen, hope you doing well!
I really have a few queries, which I hope you can help with-
Firstly, what is the name of the station at Casablanca airport?
Secondly how to book tickets online to get from Marrakech to Casablanca Airport
I then have to catch a flight to Istanbul from Casablanca Airport, but I’m unable to find train tickets online and secondly no websites are showing Casablanca Airport as the destination, but only “Casa Oasis”, “Casa port” and “Casa Voyageurs”
Would really appreciate your help, thank you!
Hi Koen. Thank you very much for taking the time to take us through this. I’ll be flying in tomorrow from Copenhagen and feel very comfortable about jumping on the train with all this great info and pics. Good job.
Such a great write up and the pictures are so helpful, thank you!!
Hello,
very helpful article.
1- You said there is only one station (Oasis?) before train arrives at Casa Voyageurs. so this good to know but is there (English) announcement in the train that also tells what station train is arriving?
2-The train going to Casa Voyageurs has any particular color / tag / indication or we just have to make sure that we are boarding from the correct platform (all trains looks alike) and hope to board on correct train :o)
3- I am also staying at Ibis Casa Voyageurs with a return flight at 8:10 am. I am planning to take 5:10 am train to get back to the airport. Is it reasonably safe plan? Can I buy early morning train ticket a day in advance?
4- going from Ibis to Medina is a long walk. if we take taxi, how much is fair MAD we should paying (I heard we need to negotiate before stepping into the taxi)
5- the ATM inside the terminal is located at a place that cannot be missed or do I need go out of the way to find it?
6- Beside Hassan mosque, any other suggested area to visit? and restaurant for food?
7- Is Ibis Casa Voyageurs good (I am still in a period to cancel if for full refund)
sorry for that many question but I am really hoping that will provide responses
thanks
1: No English announcements, as far as I know. Just use Google Maps or anything similar to track your progress (it’s a good idea to download an offline map). Anyhow, it’s nothing you should worry about – you will notice it when you arrive at Casa Voyageurs!
2: There is only one train line, that from the airport to downtown Casablanca, so there aren’t any other trains you can take from the airport anyway! You can’t go wrong here.
3: Yes to both.
4: No idea, sorry.
5: Can’t recall, but again I faced zero issues withdrawing cash and getting to my train at lightning speed, so this should be extremely straightforward.
6 and 7: Check the other chapters of the trip report! You’ll find a review of the hotel, as well as an article about Casablanca.
Safe travels!
I am so glad to have found this article!! I feel the same about taking public transport in other cities and countries. It’s a great way to get a feel for a place. I will be going to Morocco in January and your step by step guide is invaluable. I see most of the signs are in Arabic but one can always count on picture to lead you in the right direction. Thank you so much!! Best, Elise
Adding to the thanks (and confirming last train is 22:50).
We travel as Seniors and wish to add a couple of observations in relation to above queries.
Be aware that other people genuinely assist. Our bags were seized by a fellow passenger and lifted onto the train for us (this was genuine help – in other countries we might have suspected an attempt to make off with our bags!).
We travelled to Casa Port – announcements were in both Arabic and French, and Casa Port station is well-signed.
On local trams travel is simple – again both Arabic and French and stops well marked. Ticket purchase is ‘mostly straightforward’ – coins work well, but the machines don’t accept bills. Credit/Debit cards ‘sometimes’ work – the machines are erratic. If stymied, try crossing to the other direction and try the machine there (the tickets are per ride, not by direction). During daytime hours, some stations have a populated kiosk where bills can be used, but not during late night/early morning. As of end of 2023 only lines A1 and A2 were functional, but two more are scheduled in 2024 (maps show 4 lines).
Buses are a bit more challenging – info is only in Arabic, so use only if tou have a Map App to ensure you know where to disembark.
Taxis are ‘usually cheap” but not every taxi driver is scrupulously honest (most were).
At the airport we arrived mid-afternoon – peak hours! The line-up was back beyond the Immigration Hall. There is an ‘option’ (aka “scam”). The priority line for Ist class and Business passengers also embraces ‘Lounge Passengers’, so you can ‘buy’ a day pass to the lounge and exit through the priority lane. That “pass” is numbered (so reuse and resale is difficult) but does NOT indicate a price. Our travel book indicated 8€ was the cost – but the day we arrived they were asking $25 US per person – and no bargaining! That reduced the transit time at Immigration to around 1 hour (I estimate the regular wait at over 3 hours).
There’s a totally different ‘scam’ at departure – no tickets/receipts isssued but a makeshift ‘flying wedge’ of several burly types force their way through to ‘entrance security’ (bags are X-rayed as you enter the airport), saving maybe 20 mins. Once through that you still have to check-in and then clear security before departing which takes another hour (we were early – could take longer) .